Despite the sheer size of Chinas military forces, the countrys power projection capability is currently quite small for operations outside its land borders. It is quite capable of launching land based attacks on its periphery, but its naval and sea assets, despite their size, do not allow it to perform anything more than a perfunctory sea control mission. However, the PLA can strike its neighbors on its periphery with ease, and could perform a successful sea denial mission in the South China Sea. It has powerful armored and mechanized infantry divisions and has invested heavily in logistics and Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I). If called upon, the PLA could strike deep into Mongolia or the Central Asian Republics.

The Peoples Liberation Army Navys (PLAN) submarine force gives it a powerful sea denial capability, but its surface fleet, other than its two Russian Sovremenny class and one Guangzhou destroyers, cannot provide support to an amphibious force outside the range of land based airpower. The PLAN lacks sufficient sophisticated area air defense ships to defend the fleet against aircraft and anti-ship missiles.

[. . .]

The Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) cannot guarantee air supremacy over the Taiwanese coast, and the PLAN cannot provide even temporary air superiority.

[. . .]

Moreover, the Taiwanese military is aware of the beaches that are suitable for landing craft and have measures and plans in place, including fortified coastal defenses comprising 155mm and 203mm artillery, mobile anti-shipping missiles, and armored forces. [5] Nothing defeats an amphibious landing quicker than an armored counter-attack.

Actually thats a misnomer. I found out doing some internet research that there were no polish cavalry charges against panzers (from a Polish site). Poland did however inflict more losses on German forces then the combined British and French forces inflicted as the French surrendered and the British fought a defensive retreat across the English Channel. Poland managed to do that while fighting the Russian invasion from the east. Hitler introduced a new mechanized 'blitzkrieg' type of attack in Poland that was new to the world.

I believe the last American Cavalry unit to deploy with their horses was the 112th Cavalry Regiment during WWII. They turned in their horses at Noumea, New Caledonia during August 1942 when they joined up with the Americal Division.

Visit the article to contrast the people's perception against the regime's perception. Microsoft et all ain't doing us any favors when they assist the regime in censoring the flow of information.

Because of the trade with the United States and Western countries and because of the technology and monetary investments flowing into China in the last 13 years, the CCP has been able to accomplish the following:

First, the political legitimacy of ruling China after the Tiananmen Square massacre that had killed the Chinese spirit, and pursuit of freedom and democracy. The courtship by Western leaders of the CCP has convinced the Chinese people that there was no way they were going to get real support from the Western countries against the CCP dictatorship and violation of human rights. The recent incident where Mr. Chen Yonglin, a defecting Chinese diplomat in Sydney, was initially rejected for political asylum by the Australian government, was unfortunate proof of this devastating situation. The theory of engaging China is really, in practice, engaging the CCP regime and disengaging Chinese people. The pursuit of short-term economic interest has made western leaders shy away from tackling the worsening record of human rights violations, and religious and political freedom in China.

[. . .]

Second, the rapid build-up of military power which has been made possible by obtaining money and technology, in the process of trading with the United States and other Western countries.

Becoming a military super power will enable China to challenge the US determination to defend freedom and democracy in Taiwan, and to launch a war in the neighboring area that could shift China's internal crisis, and strengthen its power and legitimacy of ruling China when it is needed. The cost of course, is the interests of Chinese people, as always.

[. . .]

Third, the communist propaganda penetrating the Western world, was made possible through its deals with Western media tycoons that want to do business with China. That allows the Chinese government- made programs to be shown freely in the US, but only entertainment programs to be shown in China.

[. . .]

In conclusion, it is my observation that CCP leaders love United States and Western countries, they sent their children to the West and money too. They are eager to invite Western leaders and their associates to visit China so they can show them what they want them to see, and it works even better if they allow China to cover their travel expenses. It is not uncommon to see how a politician in the US, changes his position on China issues, after being a guest of the Chinese government.

"..The courtship by Western leaders of the CCP has convinced the Chinese people that there was no way they were going to get real support from the Western countries against the CCP dictatorship and violation of human rights..."

Unfortunately we Westerners have a way of abandoning our good allies when the costs of supporting them become a burden. Poland in WWII. South Vietnam in the Vietnam War. Kurds in Iraq after the Gulf War. And in modern times the Chinese and Iranians who are dieing for freedom right now.

In the last 13 years, I must say, the Chinese communist regime loves the United States a lot more than it hates it. It is because the United States has given up its principle of putting freedom and human rights before its trade relationship with China, or at least giving both equal weight.

Well, let's see.. 2005 - 13 = 1992. Hmmm.

technology and monetary investments flowing into China. . .the rapid build-up of military power

When I saw that former Chinese president Jiang Zemin, was received as an honorary guest in President Bush's Texas ranch, I entertained the idea that the guest could have been Saddam, if he was as powerful and evil as Jiang.

Jiang, is a long time close friend of the Feinsteins, Senator Dianne and Richard Blum Feinstein

In conclusion, the US has a choice to make today -- choosing to take sides with the Chinese communist regime, or with the Chinese people.

I'd prefer neither. I'd prefer a second Communist revolution, a new "Bamboo Curtain," and an end to free tradin' transfers of technology, wealth, and jobs. I'd prefer to see the post-America greedy executives, short-term-profits oriented bastards lose everything -- and NOT have the U.S. taxpayers reimburse them for their losses.

Meanwhile Red China will slowly sink into chaos and misery until the "Soviet" solution happens.

Much thanks for the link to your site. I've bookmarked it and will turn to it . . . often.

My recent spate of China postings is a side result of a search for credible articles dealing with Chinese internal security and internal political instability. I'm looking for evidence (or the lack of it) for an unstable infrastructure.

Examples would be the Inner Mongolian and the Uighur separatist movements (are there others? What do they look like?), the fleeing of over three thousand corrupt regional officials in 2003 or 2004 (wonder where they fled to? How much official corruption remains? When thousands of corrupt officials run for their lives, what does that say about unrest and dissatisfaction among the civilian population?), rioting in rural areas over property rights and land issues, disparity between economic well-being separating urban and rural areas, etc.

If you had a chance to read Andrew's article, how do you rate his assessment of near term Chinese force projection capability.?

I'd prefer neither. I'd prefer a second Communist revolution, a new "Bamboo Curtain," and an end to free tradin' transfers of technology, wealth, and jobs. I'd prefer to see the post-America greedy executives, short-term-profits oriented bastards lose everything -- and NOT have the U.S. taxpayers reimburse them for their losses. Meanwhile Red China will slowly sink into chaos and misery until the "Soviet" solution happens

Funny how the Cast Iron "conservatives" hate the Govt unless, of course, they need The Govt to put up barriers to protect them for evil foreigners selling' stuff. Let's see. We should enslave ourselves to inefficient American companies making shabby goods at inflated prices just to appease the Cast Iron "conservatives" paranoid delusions about trade.

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